Bahman may be killed in two days: Help Stop Imminent Execution of Minor

To sign a petition to help stop child executions - focusing on Iran with this one:
here

See LETTER FORMAT model at end of post Letters and Faxes are by FAR best...online petitions may or may not be viewed...

Although the text in some places states that Iran is the only country in the world that 'officially'(?meaning?) executes children, actually there are 5 countries which execute juveniles: China, Iran, Nigeria, Somalia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia. Nowadays China and Somalia forbid the execution of defendants under age 18 at the time of the crime, but juveniles continuie to be executed due to insufficient care in determining the age of defendants...

According to the United Nations, a child is a person under the age of 18. Despite the fact that Iran has signed International Covenants that forbid them to execute anyone who has allegedly committed an offence before the age of 18, they continue to do so. Since 1990, Amnesty International has recorded 24 executions of child offenders and over the last couple of years the rate is increasing. Currently, there are at least 79 minors on death row in Iran. Time is of the essence. Together we will make them STOP the execution of minors!

MOST IMMINENT:

Mohammad Mostafaei, a prominent lawyer working on child execution cases reported recently that Bahman Salimian, a minor on death row, is in imminent danger of execution. He was informed by a member of Bahman’s family that his execution is to take place on February 5th 2009.

Bahman Salimian is accused of killing his grandmother in 1996 at the age of 15. He repeatedly claimed in his trial that his 70-year old grandmother talked of committing suicide so he killed her to minimize her suffering.

According to Bahman's attorney, he was not in a normal state of mind at the time of the offense and that he even attempted suicide shortly after he realized what he had done.

The trial judge had Bahman psychologically assessed. Expert concluded that he was suffering from a mental disorder therefore, his sentence was reduced to 5 years imprisonment and the payment of blood money. Other members of his grandmother’s family appealed the decision wanting retribution. Bahman was sentenced to death after 12 year imprisonment. Bahman is now 27 years old and kept in Isfahan prison.

His execution had been scheduled to take place on 28 August 2008 but was halted a few days prior by judicial authorities to allow for further reconciliation attempts in order to negotiate a pardon from the only relative who still insists that the execution is to go ahead. Two of his uncles had pardoned him, but the third uncle did not.

Please send your urgent action by phoning or faxing the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations:

Mohammad Khazaee, Ambassador and Permanent Representative

622 Third Ave. New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 687-2020 / Fax: (212) 867-7086
E-mail: iran@un.int

And writing to the Head of Judiciary in Iran

His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Howzeh Riyasat-e Qoveh Qazaiyeh / Office of the Head of the Judiciary
Pasteur St., Vali Asr Ave., south of Serah-e Jomhouri,
Tehran 1316814737,
Islamic Republic of Iran
Phone: [00 98 21] 391 1109
Fax: [00 98 21] 390 4986
Email: Shahroudi@Dadgostary-tehran.ir
Salutation: Your Excellency

A POSSIBLE FORMAT for SIMILAR letters here below - yet best to make the letter your own:

Your Excellency:

I am among the many worldwide who are deeply concerned for Bahman Salimian's life. By universal standards, Bahman was too young - when he was charged with a crime - to face execution.

Iran is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Both the ICCPR and the CRC prohibit the use of the death penalty against people convicted of crimes committed when they were under 18.

As you know, Bahman Salimian was only 15 at the time of his alleged crime.

Along with the hundreds of thousands who are concerned across the world, I ask that this international covenant and this international convention be kept - with all children - and particulary right now in Bahman Salimian's case.

May our mutual concern for universal human rights be brought to bear right now in the face of this imminent execution..

Yours sincerely,
____________________

While personal letters may have the most weight, also remember to sign petitions like this
here